Cowboy Carter Reaches Top of Country Chart

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Released on March 29th, Cowboy Carter is Act II of a three-part project from one of the world’s most decorated music icons, Beyoncé. The 27-song album includes features with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Shaboozey, and more. Upon release, the album has skyrocketed to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums charts. This marks the first time a Black woman has reached the pinnacle slot on the Top Country Albums chart. 

The album marked her biggest sales week since the 2016 release of Lemonade. So far, it’s the biggest release of 2024. 

Beyoncé’s inspiration to create a country album stemmed from a personal experience where she did not feel welcomed. Many speculate that she’s referring to a 2016 appearance at the Country Music Awards, where she performed with the Dixie Chicks. The R&B singer received backlash for not having credibility in the country scene, while some of the criticism she faced was especially racist. 

This is Carter’s eighth time reaching No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Tied with Janet Jackson, Carter now shares the fourth slot for most times appearing at the top. 

Dropping Hints

On February 4, Beyoncé accompanied her longtime partner, Jay Z, to this year’s Grammy Awards. It became a family affair when the celebrity couple brought along their oldest daughter, Blue Ivy. Jay Z was selected to receive this year’s Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. At the ceremony, Beyoncé was wearing a cowboy hat. A subtle nod to her upcoming project which she would share more about the following week. 

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During the 2024 Superbowl, Beyoncé appeared in a Verizon commercial where she was depicted trying to “break the internet.” When the ad concluded, she released the first two singles, Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages, prior to the album’s release. 

Dropping Hits

Texas Hold ‘Em quickly became a favorite among fans. Several TikTok dance trends featuring the song followed suit. 

Now that the full Cowboy Carter album is available on streaming platforms, fans have quickly professed their favorites. Spaghettii, spelled with two i’s to reflect that it’s part of Act II of III, features Linda Martell and Shaboozey. The song is more reflective of her Renaissance and Lemonade days but fans have quickly connected to the beat.

Ya Ya, which is missing from her limited edition vinyl release, has also resonated with her audience. The song features a quick sample of Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys.

Near the end of the album is Tyrant which features Dolly Parton and is produced in part by David D.A. Doman. The song features a lyrical violin melody juxtaposed with a heavy bass line. Several listeners have shared their reactions to the song on social media.

With her Renaissance world tour grossing nearly $580 million during the 56-show run, many fans are anxiously awaiting another tour announcement. Until then, we’ve got 80 minutes worth of new Beyoncé songs to hold us over.